Makeshift Art Bar – Queens Hotel
A pulsating beat takes over the Queens Hotel cellar. Was that a track or a sounds check? If it’s that good who cares. We’re already going mental. Scratchy ravey arty punk rock, picking up the baton from Gilla band’s debut ad frankly best album. Birthday Party is a driving rush of crampsy goodness. Bedwetter is hypnotic beast. Its barely 12.30 and packed hotel cellar is one in one out and sweaty. (NM)

Sick Man of Europe – Hope and Ruin
A roar tone like a fire alarm makes you wonder whether to run out the door before a black clad Sick Man take to the floor with a rumble of cymbals and chords. A touch of The The, a soupson of Joy division and a smidge of Snapped Ankles make for a winning cocktail. The songs are long, deep and meditative. (NM)

Makeshift Art Bar – Resident Records Roof!
Whisper whisper: “knock on our door at 5 minutes to 2”. Sure enough we are taken up on to the roof top balcony of Resident, and find Makeshift Art Bar have made it across town in double quick time. A crowd assembles in front of Snoopers Paradise to watch the young Irish band celebrate the vinyl release of their debut EP through the Dinked imprint. These songs sound as good in the sun as they did in a cellar. “My my my, this could be something, something special to hold onto.” We could not have put it better ourselves. (NM)

RIP Magic – The Deep End
We rush across town for The recently lauded RIP Magic. Like a touch of the Streets with a bit of The Quo and LCD Soundsystem and Kim deal bass lines underneath. Yeah, that works. Instantly memorable choruses too with songs like ‘Five Words’. (NM)

Welly – The Jetty
Not really up for actual shopping today, but the ever lovely Welly singing about Shopping on an Air Stream caravan in the sunshine? What is not to like? Winner. The very large crowd seem to agree. Their star is deservedly in the ascendant and it could not happen to a nicer bunch. (NM)

Westside Cowboy – The Deep End
The Thursday delegate queue for Westside Cowboy at Paganini was insane. You could almost do your shopping in TK Maxx while stood in it. The deep end is also similarly rammed. A melodic country guitar twang and vocal starts the set in a Hank Williams way. A quick gear change and we’re into a likeable driving libertines loving guitar punk. The sound is booming but the fresh faced young one win through, with some rawkus drumming on quite a simple stripped back kit and delightful male / female vocal harmonies.

A track that may be called Your Scaring Me Now veers from Billy Bragg to Springsteen via some fierce poppy art rock. “This better be something Great’ they sing. Don’t worry. It is. Very lovely stuff. Bass player Aoife looks out across the crowd and suddenly very sees the full potentially life changing enormity of how full this tent is. Her face is pure joy as she clearly can’t believe what is happening. It draws a genuine tear to our eye. That’s what this festival is about. (NM)

Dog Race – Shipwrights Yard
We miss Sex Mask chatting but Dog Race make the journey worthwhile, in our annual pilgrimage to the republic of Music party at Shipwrights Yard. Nice to see a band who have put some effort into looking good. Their songs have a nice Arcade Fire epic post punk sound, lifted by the synths. The end crescendo is quite special. (NM)

Kroi – Casablancas
It’s sunny. It’s bright. The sea is stunning. What should we do? Go into a cellar and listen to Japanese jazz funk. That’s what. Kori are spacey and vibey and it’s the singers birthday so we all sing him the song before they launch into Monster Play which features a jungle boogie cover section that slaps, as the kids say. (NM)

HotWax – Chalk
From little rooms in pubs to a capacity Chalk; HotWax are doing the business with thier fun glam punk racket. ‘Rip It Out ‘ gets the crowd started. Lola’s bass sounds particularly funky as she runs it through a way pedal. They are clearly getting comfortable with the concept of becoming rock gods. They play a new song for the second time. It has a driving rhythm and gets a mosh started. The future looks bright for HotWax. ‘Reason to Love You’ makes a cracking finale. (NM)

The Moonlandingz – Chalk
“Thank you goodnight” and the greatest fictional band since the Sex Pistols take to the stage. Lias wastes no time and is straight off into the crowd. There is plenty of pokey banter “Stop talking play the tune.” “Fuck off back to West Norwood” responds Flanagan. ‘Black Hanz’ then drives the crowd wild. ‘Sign of a Man’ is a wonky pop classic while ‘Sweet Saturn Mine’ sees Lias back in the crowd and it is a joyful experience to dance to it live again.

Gen and the Degenerates – The Square
We walk up through Churchill Square and find Gen of Degenerates fame stood on the bar of the Square singing “we don’t care.” Then they play new single “wahoooo”. Fun times are had to this classic punky sound. Just what the Great Escape is all about. Getting told off for dancing on the furniture. Gen is a glorious front woman. (NM)

TRAAMS – Alphabet
Ok. Here we go! TRAAMS for a third time in the beauty of Alphabet. The new song still sounds like the Pixies, and it sounds particularly good on the exquisite Alphabet rig. Seriously: why are this band not huge? WHY???!!!? They effing well should be. (NM)

Baby’s Beserk – Alphabet
Still sexy. Still sassy. Baby’s Beserk are back on stage for what must be their fifth or sixth gig around town. Effortlessly cool, but also very open and friendly people, who happily hang out with the crowd after the show and go off in search of places to dance. Booze flies everywhere on the stage. They deliver the party. (NM)

Sick Man of Europe – Alphabet
Our short exposure to this brilliant band earlier, makes us want more, so we force ourselves to remain as upright as we can, which is a challenge. They make the effort worthwhile, with the sleazy 80s Neue Deutsche Welle electro of ‘Obsolete’. Their eponymous debut album is out in June, and thanks to this set, is on our shopping list as an essential purchase. (NM)

Great Escape Day 3
Various Venues – 16th May

Words: Nick McAllister
Pictures: Mike Burnell, Nick McAllister, Stan O’Shea and Ollie Thomas